USF softball opens season with 8-1 win vs. Maine

USF softball opened its 2012 season on Friday afternoon with an 8-1 home victory against Maine, with freshman Sam Greiner striking out eight batters in six innings.

USF got all the offense it needed in the first inning, with three straight two-out hits -- RBI singles by Kourtney Salvarola and Kenshyra Jackson, then a two-run double by LSU transfer Jessica Mouse, who made her Bulls debut. USF looked to end the game by mercy rule in five innings, but Maine salvaged a single run off reliever Sara Nevins in the fifth to extend the game to a full seven innings. Greiner came back in the game and pitched two more scoreless innings to close out the win.

If you weren't sure about opening-day intensity, Bulls coach Ken Eriksen was ejected in the top of the fifth for arguing an illegal-pitch call, even as his team was up 8-0 and three outs away from victory. Twice in the fifth inning, USF fielded what appeared to be inning-ending popouts, only to have the out negated by an illegal-pitch call.

One more highlight -- check out this picture to see the support USF's Stephanie Medina got Friday from her 5-year-old nephew, Damien.

USF had a second game Friday afternoon against Florida Gulf Coast, with three more games scheduled in this opening weekend, including Florida on Sunday afternoon.

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